COMDTINST 16710.2A
18 NOV 1988
3.
b.
The MI Program is based on U.S. laws which place the authority and responsibility for
enforcement of safety laws and regulations pertaining to vessels with the Coast Guard.
These laws also allow for agreements in which certain plan review and inspection
functions are delegated to ABS to be performed on behalf of the Coast Guard. Neither the
delegations nor their authority relieve the Coast Guard of its responsibility to ensure that
the laws and regulations are properly applied.
c.
Reference (b) states that the Coast Guard "will maintain over- sight sufficient to ensure
that its regulatory and statutory requirements are maintained." The purpose of oversight is
to ensure that ABS, when acting on behalf of the Coast Guard, acts in a manner consistent
with Coast Guard regulations and policy. To accomplish this, the Coast Guard provides
the necessary guidance to ABS, at both the Headquarters and field levels. This instruction
describes the oversight program and identifies the actions necessary to meet the objective
of that program.
d.
Reference (a) outlines plan review and inspection procedures for new construction or
major modifications of U.S. flag vessels which are certificated by the Coast Guard and
classed by ABS. Under these procedures, the Coast Guard will accept approvals by ABS
for plan review and inspection of certain aspects of the vessel design and construction,
provided such approvals are based on compliance with Coast Guard regulations. The
areas of delegation are listed in Section I. of enclosure (1) to reference (a) under the
heading "Plan Approval and Inspection by ABS". These are the areas requiring a specific
oversight program. Other areas identified in enclosure (1) to reference (a) are reviewed
and inspected by the Coast Guard and are not subject to the oversight program addressed
in this instruction.
e.
ABS acts on behalf of the Coast Guard when performing plan review and inspections
under reference (a). The intent of reference (a) is that Coast Guard acceptance of ABS
approvals and inspections is implicit unless there is clear cause to question compliance
with Coast Guard regulations or policies. Such cause must be documented, and the local
ABS surveyor, local Principal Surveyor, or ABS Headquarters (Paramus, NJ), as
appropriate, must be made aware of the situation. In addition, Commandant (G-MVI for
inspection items and G-MTH for plan review items) must be notified of cases where it is
alleged that ABS is not properly carrying out its responsibilities under reference (a).
Further discussion of related inspections for cause is contained in paragraph 7 below.
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